Downtown Naperville squatter sued

April 01, 2010|By Art Barnum, Tribune Reporter

Scott Huber sits in what he calls his protest site, though others call it his encampment, on the streets of downtown Naperville. In an interview, Huber said he has significantly downsized the "protest site" he has occupied for eight years at 75 E. Chicago Ave., in front of the city's downtown parking garage. Huber also said he removed supplies and the gray tarp that once covered the site, and said he has been sleeping at another location outside of downtown Naperville since the ordinance took effect. (Tribune photo by E. Jason Wambsgans)

A Naperville psychologist who became entangled in a conflict with Scott Huber, the city's well-known squatter and protester, has filed a civil lawsuit against the homeless man.

In the lawsuit, filed this week, Katherine Borchardt contends she has been defamed, had her privacy invaded, suffered emotional distress and has been assaulted.

Borchardt, who specializes in behavioral medicine, has offices at 4 N. Washington St. Huber migrated to a spot outside there after a DuPage County judge ordered him to vacate space on a downtown sidewalk at 75 E. Chicago Ave., which he called his protest site for almost 10 years and where he often stayed during the day and slept at night.

Borchardt states that on Feb. 1, she asked Huber to move to another nearby location, claiming that his presence was upsetting to some of her patients, especially children. She claims he followed her into her office, yelling at her and demanding information before leaving, and forcing her to "cower on the floor in her office so as to hide."

Naperville police charged him with trespassing and a judge ordered him not to have contact with Borchardt and to stay 500 feet from the building.

Although Huber has apparently obeyed that court order, Borchardt said she has been attacked by Huber in his blog, and in the lawsuit, she claims he refers to her as unethical and "a disciple of Satan."

Borchardt asks for a minimum of $50,000 in damages.

In addition to this civil lawsuit, Huber faces three other pending cases: one for allegedly breaking the city law against camping in the downtown area overnight, one for trespassing at Borchardt's office and another for a similar type of trespass incident at a Naperville ice cream store.

Huber's longtime protest stems from grievances he has against the city of Naperville over the failure of his electronics business.